Extrusion run-out table

Abstract

An extrusion run-out table for aluminum extrusions and the like has an extrusion support table for supporting extruded profiles as they are extruded from an extrusion press along an extrusion path and a conveyor for moving the extruded shapes from the extrusion support table to a cooling area and to a further processing area. The extrusion support table includes a set of elongated heat-resistant bars mounted perpendicular to the extrusion path, with the bars extending laterally of the extrusion path into the cooling area a distance sufficient to position one or more of the extended shapes in laterally spaced relationship to the extrusion path. The extruded shapes are cooled through an air manifold above the extrusion path and through a series of air jet nozzles which project cooling air against the extruded shapes as they are extruded. The air jet nozzles are tailored to direct the quantity and direction of the cooling fluid against the shapes so as to minimize distortion of the shapes due to differential cooling. A special baffle arrangement is provided beneath one side of the support table and beneath an opposite side of the cooling area to direct the downwardly-moving cooling air laterally and then upwardly through the cooling area.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In an extrusion run-out table for aluminum extrusions and the like, the run-out table comprising: an extrusion support table for supporting extruded profiles as they are extruded from an extrusion press along an extrusion path;   conveyor means for moving the extruded shapes from the extrusion support table to a cooling area and to a further processing area;   side extrusion support table including a set of elongated heat-resistant support means mounted perpendicular to the extrusion path;   means to impart relative vertical motion between said conveyor means and said set of support means to alternatively support said extruded shapes on said conveyor means or on said set of support means;   the improvement which comprises:   said elongated heat-resistant support means having a length which extends laterally of said extrusion path into said cooling area and a distance sufficient to position at least one of said extruded shapes in laterally spaced relationship to the extrusion path to permit additional shapes to be extruded along the extrusion path while said at least one extruded shape is cooling in said cooling area and on said support means; and   said conveyor means and said means to impart vertical motion index each successive extruded shape into said cooling area on said elongated support means subsequent to completion of extrusion thereof.   
     
     
       2. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 1 wherein said heat-resistant support means are long enough to store several of said extruded shapes in juxtaposed relationship for cooling while an additional shape is being extruded. 
     
     
       3. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 2 and further comprising means to cool said extruded shapes in said cooling area. 
     
     
       4. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 3 wherein said cooling means comprises an air manifold mounted above the extrusion path and adapted to direct air downwardly along the extrusion path; first baffle means mounted beneath said extrusion support table and adapted to direct air from said manifold laterally toward said cooling area; and second baffle means mounted beneath said cooling area and aligned with said first baffle means to deflect air from said first baffle means upwardly onto said extruded shapes in said cooling area. 
     
     
       5. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 4 wherein said first baffle is positioned at one side of said extrusion support table and said second baffle is positioned at a side of said cooling area distal of said first baffle. 
     
     
       6. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 4 and further comprising means to cool said profiles as they are extruded along said extrusion path, including means to tailor the cooling of the shape of the extruded profiles for more uniform cooling of complex shapes. 
     
     
       7. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 6 wherein said means to tailor cooling comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced along the extrusion path, and means to supply cooling fluid to said nozzles. 
     
     
       8. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 1 and further comprising means to cool said profiles as they are extruded along said extrusion path including means to tailor the cooling of the shape of the extruded profiles for more uniform cooling of complex shapes. 
     
     
       9. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 8 wherein said means to tailor the cooling comprises a plurality of air jet nozzles spaced along the extrusion path. 
     
     
       10. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises a continuous belt. 
     
     
       11. In an extrusion run-out table for aluminum extrusions and the like, the extrusion run-out table comprising: an extrusion support table for supporting extruded profiles as they are extruded from an extrusion press along an extrusion path;   conveyor means for moving the extruded shapes from the extrusion support table to a cooling area and to a further processing area;   the improvement which comprises:   cooling means comprising an air manifold mounted above the extrusion path and adapted to direct air downwardly along the extrusion path;   first baffle means mounted beneath said extrusion support table and adapted to direct air from said air manifold laterally toward said cooling area; and   second baffles means mounted beneath said cooling area and aligned with said first baffle means to deflect air from said first baffle means upwardly onto said extruded shapes in said cooling area.   
     
     
       12. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 11 wherein said first baffle means are positioned at one side of said extrusion support table and said second baffle means are positioned at a side of said cooling area distal of said first baffle. 
     
     
       13. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 12 wherein said first and second baffle means extend substantially continuously along the length of said extrusion support table. 
     
     
       14. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 11 and wherein said cooling means include means to tailor the cooling to the shape of the extruded profiles for more uniform cooling of complex shapes. 
     
     
       15. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 14 wherein said means to tailor the cooling comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced along the extrusion path and means to supply cooling fluid to said nozzles. 
     
     
       16. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 11 and further comprising heat-resistant bars in said cooling area to support hot extruded shapes. 
     
     
       17. In an extrusion run-out table for aluminum extrusions and the like, said table comprising: an extrusion support table for supporting extruded profiles as they are extruded from an extrusion press along an extrusion path;   conveyor means for moving the extruded shapes from the extrusion support table to a cooling area and to a further processing area;   means to cool said profiles as they are extruded along said extrusion path;   the improvement which comprises:   said cooling means including means to tailor the cooling to the shape of the extruded profiles for more uniform cooling of complex shapes.   
     
     
       18. An extrusion run-out table according to claim 17 wherein said means to tailor the cooling comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced along the extrusion path, and means to supply cooling fluid to said nozzles. 
     
     
       19. In a method for extruding aluminum profiles and the like wherein the profiles are extruded along an extrusion path and cooling fluid is applied to the extruded profiles as they pass along the extrusion path, the improvement which comprises tailoring the amount and direction of the cooling fluid onto the profiles so as to provide more uniform cooling of the profiles along an entire cross-sectional shape thereof.